By Mummy Grace 
O’Connor, 31, was originally drafted by the Lions in 2017 but spent most of his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before rejoining Detroit during last year’s training camp after John Cominsky’s injury. Despite starting the 2024 season on the practice squad, he was promoted in Week 7 and played in 12 games, logging a career-high 245 defensive snaps.
While his Pro Football Focus grades (43.5 overall) weren’t stellar, O’Connor showcased valuable flexibility by playing both defensive end and nose tackle after injuries struck the Lions’ interior line. He also made an impact on special teams, where he has over 1,300 career snaps.
This offseason, Detroit bolstered its defensive line depth by re-signing Levi Onwuzurike, adding Roy Lopez, drafting Tyleik Williams, and bringing back Marcus Davenport. But O’Connor’s ability to move inside or outside, combined with his veteran presence, could give him an edge in a crowded position battle.
A key X-factor is new defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers, who coached O’Connor for five years in Tampa Bay and knows his strengths well. That familiarity could provide O’Connor with an inside track as roster decisions loom.
If O’Connor can demonstrate his value during camp and preseason action, he could once again become a reliable depth piece and special teams asset for a Lions team eyeing a deep playoff run.